The 2800m Villarrica volcano, one of Chile's most active, has begun erupting.
In this image a lightning strike can be seen striking the mountain at the same time as the lava spews into the sky.(AAP)

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Photographers have captured the incredible moment the Villarica volcano in south-east Chile erupted overnight, sending a huge stream of lava into the sky and prompting the evacuation of thousands of people.

In this image a lightning strike can be seen striking the mountain at the same time as the lava spews into the sky. (AAP)

As the volcano, in the country's south-east, began erupting authoritires declared a red alert and ordered the evacuation of some 3000 people from nearby villages. (Getty Images)

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As the volcano began erupting authorities declared a red alert and ordered the evacuation of some 3000 people from nearby villages. (Getty Images)

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The eruption "was fairly intense but short in duration," said Luis Lara, the head of Chile's volcano monitoring network. (Getty Images)

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Tall plumes of ash spewed 3km above sea level. (Getty Images)

9RAW: Volcano in southern Chile erupts

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March 04, 2015: The Villarrica Volcano in southern Chile has erupted prompting the evacuation of thousands of people as heavy smoke and lava spews out.

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It was the volcano's first major eruption in 15 years. (Getty Images)

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But within about seven hours the eruption calmed, and there were no longer any visible signs of activity. (AAP)

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Officials classified the eruption as level two on a scale that runs from zero to eight. (AAP)

Villarrica is considered one of the most active volcanoes in all of South America, and draws crowds of tourists each year, with hikers climbing its slopes in the summer months to see inside its crater. (AAP)

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Villarrica is considered one of the most active volcanoes in all of South America, and draws crowds of tourists each year, with hikers climbing its slopes in the summer months to see inside its crater. (AAP)

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Authorities partially lifted their red alert, keeping it in place for a 10km radius around the volcano but allowing residents of the main towns in the area to return home under "yellow alert." (Getty Images)

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Schools remained closed in the towns of Villarrica, Pucon, Curarrehue and Conaripe, which surround the volcano. (AAP)